Costs empties boats the port of Sanitja at the doors of summer

CiutadellaThe historic port of Sanitja, which housed the ancient Roman city of Sanisera, north of Mercadal, is on the verge of the boatless season. Not a single one of the forty that were still there until this winter. Costes has evicted them for failing to regularize the users' association and the legal status of the five jetties that were used in this protected area, which had already led to the opening of several sanctioning proceedings by the state administration.

The Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle states that these proceedings are precisely the cause of the removal of the boats and the fact that neither the project nor the concession application submitted to Costes three years ago has been approved. Nevertheless, it assures ARA Balears that "the Government is doing everything possible to obtain the permits and be able to regularize the situation."

The key, according to sources from the Ministry, is "to have favorable reports from the Ministry for Ecological Transition, which has not been possible until now." Even so, the Government remains in contact with the Mercadal City Council and the users' association to "continue seeking solutions." "We have already made several proposals," comment sources from the regional Executive, who still hope to obtain a temporary authorization for this summer that will generate time to resolve the definitive concession.

The "sadness" of those affected

The situation has not gone unnoticed among the residents of the Cap de Cavalleria area. “It causes me great sadness to arrive in Sanitja and find no boats or market stalls there,” admits Cristòfol Martí, a local resident. “Since I can remember, I had always seen boats in this place. Small ones, mostly from local people, working people, who in many cases had passed from father to son” and who used them “to enjoy moments of leisure after working days”. “Once again, they are taking away our roots and our customs,” he laments.

Martí asks for the protection of the administration to resolve the situation. “Where are the City Council, the Island Council, and the Balearic Government? The fact is that the boats are no longer there.” And he denounces that “it is the very people responsible who are so keen on overcrowding the port of Fornells with renovations and adding more moorings, or planning extensions to the port of Addaia, or more moorings in the port of Maó”.

However, the local and regional administrations are in agreement on this matter, and next Thursday, April 16, they will try to take advantage of the meeting convened by the Insular Directorate of the State and the Coastal Demarcation with the municipalities of Menorca to try to find a solution.